Collapsible crate



Aug. 5 1924. 1,504,162

G.H.TATGE ET AL COLLAl S IBLE CRATE Filed Jan. 31, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet B r /7 /5 /3 /a /7 /5 f5 7 /5' Patented ug. 5, 1924,

UN ITE@ S IA 'I E S PATENT @FFI CE".

GEORGE H. ramen', CRARLRY MANZER, AND EARL MANZRR',` or NORFOLK, NEBRASKA."

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Application filed January 31, 1923. Serial No. 61165633.

To all 'whom t may concer/rb: A

Be it known that we,-GEORGE H. TATGE,

kCHARLEY MANZER, jand EARL MANZER, citizens of the United States, residing` at Norfolk,A in the county vof Madiso-n and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates;

and we do hereby declare the followingy toV tion which is exceedingly simple and inex`V pensive to manufacture and which does not sacrifice its capability of being compactly folded and readily and easily unfolded.

Another object is to provide such a'crate essentially made from aplurality of flexibly connected frame units each similar in shape and preferably comprising, a main slat and a plurality of cross slats rigid therewith.

A third object is Vto provide a construction in which the alternate frame units have their cross slats superimposed at their ends on the ends of adjacent cross slats and pivoted thereto.

Another object is to provide a construction having a foldable form ring and associated latch to prevent collapse of the frame units in unfolded or crate form.

Various additional objects and advantages will be pointed out and otherwise appear from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompany ing drawings illustrating one operative embodiment.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved crate;

Figure 2 yis a side elevatio-n thereof in collapsed form;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view o-f one ofV the frame units, and

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation illustrating a modification in theV construction of the lower end of the crate.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts in the diiferent views.

In carrying ,out the invention,the .crate is essentiallymade from anevenV nuVIInbe-ri-ofA frame units I10,'one ofnwhicyh is detailed in Figure 7. Each ofthese units vconsist of a main slat 11, usually vertically disposed, and transverse slats 12 and 13 at the top and bottomv thereof, nailedtheretoas at 14 or otherwise fastened. Intermediate these slats 12 and 13, one or more transverse slats 14b may be provided which are nailed or otherwise fastened as at 15 tothe main slat 11. Transverse slats 12, 13 and 14project `equidistantly on opposite sides of the main slat 11 as shown. All of the slatsfll, 12,

13 and 14 may be made of any material desired but are preferably made of wood. In the crate, the units 10 Vare so disposed that alternatetransverse slats, 12, 13 and 14 at their ends will be superimposed on the adjacent ends of the respective cross slats. In such position, tie rods, 16 are loosely passed through the ends of said transverse or, cross slats 12, 13 and 14 in order to flexibly or hingedly connect said cross slats together. Each tie rod 16 may be provided'a't one of its end-s with a head 17. The opposite ends of these heads may have nuts 18 threaded thereon so that they may be remo-ved if desired, although it will be understood that the opposite ends of the rods may be upset if desired, in order to prevent accidental displacement of the rods from the crate.

In the unfolded or utile form of the crate, it will be generally of skeleton form. If desired, the bottom 19 may be disposed therein resting on alternate transverse slats 13. The bottom 19 is unconnected to the crate and therefore is removable, and it helps to maintain the crate in erected or utile form.

Also in order to prevent accidental collapse of the crate from utile form, a form ring 20, which may `be of relatively stiff metallic wire, is disposed within the crate. By means of a staple 21 fastened to one of the main slats 1l, said ring 2O is pivotally fastened in place. In order to prevent accidental folding of the ring 20, a spring latch 22 is fastened as at 23 to one of the main slats 11. Movement of the latch 22 is guided and limited by a staple or loop 24 fastened to the same main slat 11 as latch 22. The latch is offset or crooked as at 25 in order to receive the ring and it has a manipulating loop at 26.

The form of crate shown is particularly adapted for'use in connection With banana bunches either exposed or contained in sacks as preferred. This illustration is by way of example only since the principles are not limited to that particular use and may be applied to crates generally. .Y

In the utile form, the ring is in a horizontal position and the bottom 19, if used, isV in a horizontal position as shown. In this form, the banana bunch or bunches is positioned Within the crate and suitably tied or otherwise fastened thereto against loss or detachment therefrom during transportation. After use, the ring 2O is disengaged from the latch 22 and thenl folded iat against the main slat 11 bearing the staple 21. Also the bottom 19 is removed.

Y In this condition, the crate may be pressed Figure 2 for storage or return transporta,

from opposite sides so that the units may pivot on the tie rods 16 and the structure will fold into the compact form shown in tion,

Instead of employing the bottom 19 another form ring 2O maybe used adjacent the bottom of the crate as illustrated in Figure 7, thus presenting a form Vusing two of said rings 20 one at the top and one at the bottom. BothV form ring 20, their latches 22 and associated parts are. similar. In such a formthe bananas or the like are prefer ably contained in a sack which is itself se-l "cured to the crate.

It is to be understood that changes in the details may |be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is also tobe understood that in practice the crate may be provided with either atop form ring and the solid bottom', or with top and bottom form rings, meet'- ing the solid bottom, and that each frame unit may embody three or more transverse slats.

vWhat is claimed is Y A collapsible crate having an even number of frame units, eachv unit consisting of a main slat and transverse slats, said transverse slats extending equidistantly from opposite sides of the main slat, the transverse slats of alternate units being superimposed on the adjacenttransverse slats and at the ends, tie rods passing through said 'endsVV parallel to the main slats and constituting pivots for the units, a form ring within the crate, means pivotingsa'id ring Vtoone'of the main slats, and a fastening latch, on saidY ring on another slat.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in. presence of two witnesses.

GEORGIE I-I. TATGE. @HARLEY MANZER EARL MANZER llVitnesses: v i j LEONE RIORDAN, y HELEN MCFARLAND. 

